Uber Drivers to Remain Independent Contractors Under $100 Million Settlement

An Uber driver drops off a customer in San Francisco's downtown neighborhood. (Ericka Cruz Guevarra/KQED)

The ride service giant Uber will continue to classify its drivers as independent contractors under a class action settlement reached on April 21st. The settlement, which still needs judicial approval, will also require Uber to pay up to $100 million to the roughly 385,000 drivers in California and Massachusetts who brought the lawsuits. Meanwhile, the California Public Utilities Commission adopted new inspection and insurance rules and formally approved fare-splitting for Uber and Lyft customers. We discuss the settlement and the latest developments in the ride service industry.